4 U.S. Code § 42 - Same; custody and use of

The Secretary of State shall have the custody and charge of such seal. Except as provided by section
2902(a) of title
5, the seal shall not be affixed to any instrument without the special warrant of the President therefor.

1966—Pub. L. 89–554struck out provisions which required the Secretary of State to make out and record, and to affix the seal to, all civil commissions for officers of the United States appointed by the President. See section
2902(a) of Title
5, Government Organization and Employees.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by section
301 of title
3 of the United States Code (section
10, Public Law 248, approved October 31, 1951, 65 Stat. 713), and as President of the United States, I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States, pursuant to section
42 of title
4 of the United States Code [this section], without any special warrant therefor, other than this order, to each document included within any of the following classes of documents when such document has been signed by the President and, in the case of any such document to which the counter-signature of the Secretary of State is required to be affixed, has been counter-signed by the said Secretary:

1. Proclamations by the President of treaties, conventions, protocols, or other international agreements.

2. Instruments of ratification of treaties.

3. Full powers to negotiate treaties and to exchange ratifications.

4. Letters of credence and recall and other communications from the President to heads of foreign governments.

5. Exequaturs issued to those foreign consular officers in the United States whose commissions bear the signature of the chief of state which they represent.

LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.